St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-19
THE UBIQUITOUS JEW.
His Adaptability to All Climates
and Conditions.


1t has been frequently remarked that
the Jewish race has wonderful power
of adaptation to all climates. Jews are
found in all parts of the globe, and
seem to possess remarkable facility
for decentralization, even under the
most unfavorable circumstances. Mes
OpOtamia is considered the mother coun-
try OF the Abrahamic family, as well as
the cradle of the human race, says the
Jewish World. Some years ago a small
colony of Jews were found in the
ancient city of Seminar, in the
south of Mesopotamia, and in the
vicinity of ancient Babylon. OF the
seventy families composing the colony,
one claimed to be descended from King
Joachim, the rest from the house Of
Levi. A colony of Jews appear to have
settled in China about the beginning of
the third century of the Christian era,
under the dynasty of Han. In 17O4
Father GOnzani, a Roman Catholic mis-
Sionary, found seven Jewish families
near Pekin.
In 1856 a Portuguese Jew of Amster-
dam, named De Pavia, discovered sect
of Jews in Cochin China. According to
a tradition preserved among them,
they were descended from a tribe of
Jews who had quilted Palestine on the
destruction of the second temple. From
their long residence in Cochin they had
become completely bronzed. These
are not the same as the Mala-
bar Jews. The Jewish traveller
min H., discovered colony of Jews,
evidently of Persian origin, III Hindo-
stan. They were known as "BabylOnian
jews" on account of their having
migrated from Babylonla. They OBJ
served the essential rites of Judaism,
and STRICTLY avoided intermarriage with
other sects. In the beginning of the
seventeenth century Jewish colony
settled in Cayenne in the West Indies,
one OF the most 1nhOSpitable climates in
South America.
Cayenne was subsequently conquered
by the French, who made it a penal
settlement, and the Jewish colony was
forced to retire to Surinam. Notwith-
standing. frequent prosecutions, Jews
are still found in Persia, more especially
to the south of the Caspian sea, where
the soil is. very fertile but
the climate very unhealthy. The
principal city is Balprosh, where
about $50 Jewish families re-
side in almost complete isolation. They
trade with their brethren in Great Tar
tary, and are engaged in the wool and
silk trade or in the sale of citrons. They,
too, trace their origin from the Baby
lOnian captivity, for, according to ira
dltlon still possessed among them. their
ancestors settled in Persia in the time
OF NebuchadneZZar, and did not respond
to the appeal of Ezra to return to PaleS-
tine. Their mode of life resembles that
OF the PerSianS in general. They hold
the beard in high esteem, and wear
. long, flowing robes. They have several
SynagOgues, and obtain scrolls of the
law from Bagdad. The celebrated
African traveller, MungO Park, found a
colony of Jewish families in the heart
of Africa, about 500 miles from the
coast. 1t is no doubt this peculiar
ity of the Jewish race which induced
a French writer on medical geogra-
ply Eto express the opinion that sit
is questionable whether the crossing of
/, human varieties cOnfers on the issue
constant advantages in relation to the
species; for the Jewish race seems in a
wonderful manner capable of adapting
itself to every change of climate, while
others are scarcely able to bear the least
change"
The Jew is found in every part of the
world; in Europe, from Norway to Glib
raltar; in Africa. from Algiers to the
Cape of Good Hope; in Asia, from Co
chin to the Caucasus; from Java to
PeEin. He hos peopled Australia, and
has given proof of his powers of accli-
matiZatiOn under thetEopics, where peo-
pie of European origin have constantly
failed to perpetuate themselves.